The owner of the Scuttlebutt Tavern in Wantagh says he was shocked to find his American flag mural defaced by graffiti Friday morning.

Paul Lundwall says 'We Kneel Because You Kill' with a No. 7 inside of a circle was spray painted on the stripes of the flag.

The American flag mural has been on the side of the tavern on Merrick Road since 2018. It says, “God Bless America” and 'We Stand & Always Will."

The owner says there are surveillance cameras in the area and he's hopeful whoever did it will be caught.

"Why would you do that? Your political beliefs shouldn't be brought out on my wall," he told News 12.

Lundwall says the artist who painted the mural plans to paint over the graffiti this week.